April 6, 2017 — David Steenblock, D.O., an osteopathic physician based in San Clemente, Calif., recently discussed his use of hyperbaric oxygen to achieve significant and improved lifestyle outcomes for many stroke patients. The technique involves the therapeutic use of oxygen under pressure to dramatically reduce the effects of stroke and brain injury.

“Many of our cases have demonstrated a 40-100 percent rate of improvement for stroke victims who received oxygen under pressure, “ said Steenblock. He encourages U.S. physicians to consider the merits of this approach.

Steenblock treated a 62-year old patient with a stroke that completely paralyzed her right arm and left her severally bent over and limping, He prescribed his patient a series of 60 treatments within 12 weeks in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Increasing a person’s level of dissolved oxygen using HBOT can activate neuroplasticity and improve stroke-induced neurologic deficiencies, he added.

The goal is to get as much oxygen into the brain as possible. This helps to revive oxygen-starved, damaged brain tissue, Steenblock explained. This principle holds true for traumatic brain injury as well, where brain tissue is irreversibly destroyed, as brain cells deprived of oxygen usually die within 10 minutes, but a larger portion is potentially revivable.

After one month of treatment, the patient showed clear signs of improvement, with walking, posture and range of motion noticeably improved. She was able to open and close her right hand, grip and squeeze objects, and raise her arm to her chest.